Reactions to Hungarian election

EU leaders hail Magyar: “Hungary has chosen Europe”

Tributes and congratulations are pouring in from European leaders after Péter Magyar’s election victory in Hungary.

“Hungary has chosen Europe. Europe has always chosen Hungary. Together we are stronger. [...] The heart of Europe beats faster in Hungary tonight,” writes European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

“France celebrates the victory of democratic participation, the bond of the Hungarian people to the values ​​of the EU and Hungary in Europe,” writes French President Emmanuel Macron.

“I look forward to working together for a strong, secure and, above all, united Europe,” writes German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Orbán’s chief of staff: It was a democratic election

Sunday’s election was democratic. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s chief of staff Gergely Gulyás confirmed this shortly after the polls closed at 7 p.m., writes Reuters.

Gulyás said he was convinced that the ruling Fidesz party would win a majority. Shortly after 9 p.m., however, opposition leader Péter Magyar announced that Orbán had conceded defeat.

Reactions to Hungarian elections
Challenger Péter Magyar: “Cautious optimism”

Hungarian opposition leader Péter Magyar is cautiously optimistic about the election results, he said, according to several media outlets.

The record-high voter turnout shows how important the people think the election is, he said, adding:

“The Hungarians have made history again.”

Two independent opinion polls, conducted before election day and published after the polls closed, give Tisza a significant lead – 55 to 57 percent, compared to 37 to 38 percent for incumbent Fidesz.